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Let me tell my experience. There I am in my comfortable pew for 50 years in a mainline denominational church. I am surrounded by nice people I have known for almost 50 years. Everyone is very comfortable. Everyone knows the Sunday morning routine, we all think we have our fire insurance. We all feel we know the truth about God and all other denominations and sects have problems. I do have a sense something is missing however.

6 years ago our nice popular Pastor left for some unknown reason. 5 years ago we unanimously called our new Pastor. We were all excited about the “church growth” possibilities our new Pastor’s life experiences would bring.

As soon as I saw him for the first time I heard an audible voice in my head saying “help him”. This new Pastor started by teaching us that we must be beggars for grace. He went back to basics of the standards established by our church and denomination. Scripture, Confession, and Constitution. It turns out that all three have been abandoned years ago by our church and denomination.

Experiencing Christ Jesus our Lord in a personal relationship way became a focus of the teaching. This made everyone uncomfortable. Our new Pastor was not a “nice” man.

I became one of his Elders and have tried to help him. What a Joy it has been. He taught me not to believe in my illusion of control. He has taught me not to live in the past or worry about the future but rather to live in the now. He is my spiritual mentor and I finally realize that the log in my eye is my judgmental attitude. The attitude I have had where I think I am better than someone else.

A schism was established and some of us have left the Egypt that was our old church experience with our Pastor. We meet every Sunday for Worship and Bible study in the wilderness. The beggars for grace have left and the nice people remain behind. They hate our Pastor.

Much has happened and is still happening. What a wonderful adventure in faith God has given me. Praise God!